Want to move like an athlete? Then you're going to need to include rotational exercises in your fitness arsenal. Often overlooked, rotational exercises go against much of what we usually focus on in strength training. Rather than stabilising to avoid rotation (think about when you're doing bird dogs, for example - you'll be engaging your core to prevent your hips rotating), these moves focus specifically on the twisting motions that power many of our functional movements, from throwing a ball and to fastening a car seat belt to getting up out of bed in the morning.
If you're wondering why this is important, here's the science bit. Our bodies are designed to move across three distinct planes of motion: sagittal (forward and backwards), frontal (sideways) and transverse (rotational). A well-balanced and effective strength training regime will incorporate a variety of all these types of movements, ensuring efficiency of movement and a reduced risk of injury.
